To find out more about Crisis UK, visit https://www.crisis.org.uk.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Nickelodeon's Consumer Products Team Holds Huge Sample Sale to Raise Funds for Crisis UK
Nickelodeon's Consumer Products team recently held a huge sample sale at ViacomCBS Networks UK's Hawley Crescent HQ in Camden, London for a good cause! Employees had the chance to purchase a range of items including Nickelodeon toys, clothes and homeware inspired by hit Nickelodeon properties, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, PAW Patrol and Nickelodeon Slime, predominantly designed for young children. Proceeds will go to Crisis UK, the national charity for homeless people.
To find out more about Crisis UK, visit https://www.crisis.org.uk.
To find out more about Crisis UK, visit https://www.crisis.org.uk.
Playing With Fire (2019) | First Responders Day | + Sneak Peek | Paramount Pictures
Update (12/15) - Playing with Fire has now brought in $50,234,217 (USD) at the global box office!
Playing With Fire (2019) - First Responders Day - Paramount Pictures
On #FirstRespondersDay and every day, we thank first responders everywhere. #PlayingWithFireMovie đ
"When straight-laced fire superintendent Jake Carson (John Cena) and his elite team of expert firefighters (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane) come to the rescue of three siblings (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery and Finley Rose Slater) in the path of an encroaching wildfire, they quickly realize that no amount of training could prepare them for their most challenging job yet: babysitting. Unable to locate the children’s parents, the firefighters have their lives, jobs and even their fire depot turned upside down and quickly learn that kids (much like fires!) are wild and unpredictable.
Playing With Fire ‘Exclusive Sneak Peek’ #3 w/ Keegan-Michael Key đ Nick
It’s bubbles trouble! Watch an exclusive sneak peek of #PlayingWithFire starring John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, and John Leguizamo in theaters now! #ad
Playing With Fire ‘Exclusive Sneak Peek’ #2 w/ John Cena đ„ Nick
Who knew babysitting could be this painful? Here’s an exclusive sneak peek of #PlayingWithFire starring John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, and John Leguizamo in theaters November 8th Rated PG. #ad
Playing With Fire comes from Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players and Nickelodeon Movies. As expected based on Nickelodeon's involvement, it's a family comedy for viewers of all ages.
Playing With Fire (2019) - Behind The Scenes Fun! - Paramount Pictures
Go behind the scenes with the cast of #PlayingWithFireMovie for a special look at the hilarious on-set fun!
Playing With Fire (2019) - Smokejumpers Featurette - Paramount Pictures
Learn more about the real-life heroes that inspired #PlayingWithFireMovie with this inside look at the California Smokejumpers of Redding, CA. Special thanks to the USDA Forest Service for all of their incredible, vital work.
John Cena takes you behind the scenes of his new movie, Playing With Fire | WWE
Go on the set of John Cena's hilarious new comedy, Playing With Fire, which opens on Nov. 8, 2019.
From IndieWire:
As Wildfires Burn, Paramount Preempts ‘Playing With Fire’ PR Disaster With Charitable Outreach
Wildfire season is a risky time to debut a comedy about kids who get separated from their parents during a wildfire.
John Cena, Shay Shariatzadeh at Paramount Pictures presents the US premiere of 'Playing With Fire', Arrivals, AMC Lincoln Square, New York, USA - 26. Credit: Patrick Lewis/StarPix for Paramount Pictures/Shutterstock.
With 10 wildfires currently burning throughout California, residents have become all too familiar with the concept of containment — a measurement that refers to the perimeter firefighters create around a blaze to prevent its spread. Marketing materials for Paramount’s November 8 firehouse comedy “Playing With Fire” starring John Cena uses the tagline “0% Contained.” Not exactly the association you want for a Nickelodeon-produced family movie.
However, Paramount appears acutely aware of the optics. With a plan for charitable donations and other outreach to real-life firefighters, the studio has gotten ahead of any critical commentary on the matter, most of which has long been planned, a representative said.
Cena plays a straight-laced fire superintendent who heads an elite team of smokejumpers who parachute into blazes. Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, and Tyler Mane are part of the team who rescue three children (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery, and Finley Rose Slater) in the path of a wildfire. They unwittingly become babysitters to the siblings when they’re unable to locate the children’s parents and find that kids, much like fires, are wild and unpredictable.
While the trailer for “Playing With Fire” suggests that the core of the movie is firefighters-meet-children-hijinks that happen in the safety of the firehouse, its release date is firmly ensconced in California’s fire season.
Cena took to Twitter Monday as the Getty Fire burned homes and prompted mandatory evacuations on the Westside of Los Angeles, announcing that he would donate $500,000 to a first-responder charity: All Paramount needed to do is choose one.
“Paramount is bringing you the movie ‘Playing with Fire and today I asked myself, ‘What can I do?,'” he said. “I have come up with an answer: I want Paramount to do me one favor — pick a charity. Pick a charity that aids our first responders as soon as possible and on behalf of ‘Playing with Fire’ and out of respect to the people I truly believe are heroes, my response will be to immediately donate half-a-million-dollars to that cause.”
Paramount responded about 30 minutes later, suggesting the California Fire Foundation, which offers emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and their communities, as well as the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the city department’s nonprofit arm.
A Paramount representative said the studio has screened the movie for first responders and their families across the country, is giving away Halloween candy at firehouses in field markets, and will release a featurette next week to celebrate the work of smokejumpers.
###
From Collider:
Watch Collider’s Kid Reporter Interview John Cena and the ‘Playing with Fire’ Cast
With the family comedy Playing With Fire opening in movie theaters this weekend, we recently sent Collider’s “kid reporter” (otherwise known as my niece) to talk with John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianna Hildebrand and director Andy Fickman in New York City. While it was her first time doing an interview and being on camera, I think she did a great job. And I’m not just saying that because I’m her uncle.
As you’ll see in the player [here], Gigi (my niece) and the cast talked about making Playing With Fire, if they were worried about being slimed because it was a Nickelodeon movie, what was their favorite part of the movie, what it was like working with the dog Masher, if the cast performed their own stunts, and a lot more. In addition, you can watch John Cena and Keegan-Michael Key recreate their throw up scene.
Check out what they had to say and below is exactly what they talked about followed by the official synopsis and trailer.
John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianna Hildebrand and Andy Fickman:
Recreating the throw up scene
What it was like working with John Cena?
How long did it take to make the movie?
What was their favorite part of the movie?
Did Brianna Hildebrand really get to drive the ATV?
Did John Cena really use the parachutes?
What was it like working with the dog Masher?
Did they worry about being slimed because this was a Nickelodeon movie?
Was it challenging filming the fire sequences?
Here’s the Playing With Fire synopsis and trailer:
When straight-laced fire superintendent Jake Carson (John Cena) and his elite team of expert firefighters (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane) come to the rescue of three siblings (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery and Finley Rose Slater) in the path of an encroaching wildfire, they quickly realize that no amount of training could prepare them for their most challenging job yet – babysitters. Unable to locate the children’s parents, the firefighters have their lives, jobs and even their fire depot turned upside down and quickly learn that kids – much like fires –are wild and unpredictable.
###
Quem Brinca Com O Fogo... | Programa de FamĂlia | Paramount Pictures Portugal (HD)
Nada prepara estes bombeiros para o desafio mais difĂcil de todos: babysitting. "Quem Brinca Com O Fogo...", com John Cena, estreia a 7 novembro nos cinemas | Portugal
#QuemBrincaComOFogo
Quando o superintendente Jake Carson (John Cena) e a sua equipa de elite de bombeiros-paraquedistas (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo e Tyler Mane) resgatam trĂȘs irmĂŁos (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery e Finley Rose Slater) a caminho de um violento incĂȘndio florestal, rapidamente percebem que por muito treino que tivessem feito, nada os poderia preparar para o trabalho mais desafiador de todos os tempos – babysitters. Incapazes de localizar os pais das crianças, os bombeiros tĂȘm as suas vidas, empregos e quartel de cabeça para baixo. Depressa aprendem que as crianças – tal como os incĂȘndios - sĂŁo selvagens e imprevisĂveis.
TĂtulo Original: Playing with Fire
Realização: Andy Fickman
Argumento: Dan Ewen e Matthew Lieberman
HistĂłria de: Dan Ewen
Produção: Todd Garner, Sean Robins
Produção Executiva: Mark Moran
Elenco: John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Brianna Hildebrand, Dennis Haybert, Judy Greer
###
More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's November 2019 Premiere Highlights | Thanksgiving!
Originally published: Monday, October 28, 2019.
Additional sources: 411mania.com (II), CA NotĂcias.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Movies News and Highlights!
Playing With Fire (2019) - First Responders Day - Paramount Pictures
On #FirstRespondersDay and every day, we thank first responders everywhere. #PlayingWithFireMovie đ
"When straight-laced fire superintendent Jake Carson (John Cena) and his elite team of expert firefighters (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane) come to the rescue of three siblings (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery and Finley Rose Slater) in the path of an encroaching wildfire, they quickly realize that no amount of training could prepare them for their most challenging job yet: babysitting. Unable to locate the children’s parents, the firefighters have their lives, jobs and even their fire depot turned upside down and quickly learn that kids (much like fires!) are wild and unpredictable.
Playing With Fire ‘Exclusive Sneak Peek’ #3 w/ Keegan-Michael Key đ Nick
It’s bubbles trouble! Watch an exclusive sneak peek of #PlayingWithFire starring John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, and John Leguizamo in theaters now! #ad
Playing With Fire ‘Exclusive Sneak Peek’ #2 w/ John Cena đ„ Nick
Who knew babysitting could be this painful? Here’s an exclusive sneak peek of #PlayingWithFire starring John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, and John Leguizamo in theaters November 8th Rated PG. #ad
Playing With Fire comes from Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players and Nickelodeon Movies. As expected based on Nickelodeon's involvement, it's a family comedy for viewers of all ages.
Playing With Fire (2019) - Behind The Scenes Fun! - Paramount Pictures
Go behind the scenes with the cast of #PlayingWithFireMovie for a special look at the hilarious on-set fun!
Playing With Fire (2019) - Smokejumpers Featurette - Paramount Pictures
Learn more about the real-life heroes that inspired #PlayingWithFireMovie with this inside look at the California Smokejumpers of Redding, CA. Special thanks to the USDA Forest Service for all of their incredible, vital work.
John Cena takes you behind the scenes of his new movie, Playing With Fire | WWE
Go on the set of John Cena's hilarious new comedy, Playing With Fire, which opens on Nov. 8, 2019.
From IndieWire:
As Wildfires Burn, Paramount Preempts ‘Playing With Fire’ PR Disaster With Charitable Outreach
Wildfire season is a risky time to debut a comedy about kids who get separated from their parents during a wildfire.
John Cena, Shay Shariatzadeh at Paramount Pictures presents the US premiere of 'Playing With Fire', Arrivals, AMC Lincoln Square, New York, USA - 26. Credit: Patrick Lewis/StarPix for Paramount Pictures/Shutterstock.
With 10 wildfires currently burning throughout California, residents have become all too familiar with the concept of containment — a measurement that refers to the perimeter firefighters create around a blaze to prevent its spread. Marketing materials for Paramount’s November 8 firehouse comedy “Playing With Fire” starring John Cena uses the tagline “0% Contained.” Not exactly the association you want for a Nickelodeon-produced family movie.
However, Paramount appears acutely aware of the optics. With a plan for charitable donations and other outreach to real-life firefighters, the studio has gotten ahead of any critical commentary on the matter, most of which has long been planned, a representative said.
Cena plays a straight-laced fire superintendent who heads an elite team of smokejumpers who parachute into blazes. Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, and Tyler Mane are part of the team who rescue three children (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery, and Finley Rose Slater) in the path of a wildfire. They unwittingly become babysitters to the siblings when they’re unable to locate the children’s parents and find that kids, much like fires, are wild and unpredictable.
While the trailer for “Playing With Fire” suggests that the core of the movie is firefighters-meet-children-hijinks that happen in the safety of the firehouse, its release date is firmly ensconced in California’s fire season.
Cena took to Twitter Monday as the Getty Fire burned homes and prompted mandatory evacuations on the Westside of Los Angeles, announcing that he would donate $500,000 to a first-responder charity: All Paramount needed to do is choose one.
Thank you @JohnCena for your generosity & dedication to our first responders. We've chosen two charities to share your donation: @CAFireFound & the @LAFDFoundation, which provide essential services to the dedicated firefighters who are working tirelessly to keep us safe. https://t.co/E5qljbQy0p
— Paramount Pictures (@ParamountPics) October 29, 2019
“Paramount is bringing you the movie ‘Playing with Fire and today I asked myself, ‘What can I do?,'” he said. “I have come up with an answer: I want Paramount to do me one favor — pick a charity. Pick a charity that aids our first responders as soon as possible and on behalf of ‘Playing with Fire’ and out of respect to the people I truly believe are heroes, my response will be to immediately donate half-a-million-dollars to that cause.”
Paramount responded about 30 minutes later, suggesting the California Fire Foundation, which offers emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and their communities, as well as the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the city department’s nonprofit arm.
A Paramount representative said the studio has screened the movie for first responders and their families across the country, is giving away Halloween candy at firehouses in field markets, and will release a featurette next week to celebrate the work of smokejumpers.
###
From Collider:
Watch Collider’s Kid Reporter Interview John Cena and the ‘Playing with Fire’ Cast
With the family comedy Playing With Fire opening in movie theaters this weekend, we recently sent Collider’s “kid reporter” (otherwise known as my niece) to talk with John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianna Hildebrand and director Andy Fickman in New York City. While it was her first time doing an interview and being on camera, I think she did a great job. And I’m not just saying that because I’m her uncle.
As you’ll see in the player [here], Gigi (my niece) and the cast talked about making Playing With Fire, if they were worried about being slimed because it was a Nickelodeon movie, what was their favorite part of the movie, what it was like working with the dog Masher, if the cast performed their own stunts, and a lot more. In addition, you can watch John Cena and Keegan-Michael Key recreate their throw up scene.
Check out what they had to say and below is exactly what they talked about followed by the official synopsis and trailer.
John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianna Hildebrand and Andy Fickman:
Recreating the throw up scene
What it was like working with John Cena?
How long did it take to make the movie?
What was their favorite part of the movie?
Did Brianna Hildebrand really get to drive the ATV?
Did John Cena really use the parachutes?
What was it like working with the dog Masher?
Did they worry about being slimed because this was a Nickelodeon movie?
Was it challenging filming the fire sequences?
Here’s the Playing With Fire synopsis and trailer:
When straight-laced fire superintendent Jake Carson (John Cena) and his elite team of expert firefighters (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane) come to the rescue of three siblings (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery and Finley Rose Slater) in the path of an encroaching wildfire, they quickly realize that no amount of training could prepare them for their most challenging job yet – babysitters. Unable to locate the children’s parents, the firefighters have their lives, jobs and even their fire depot turned upside down and quickly learn that kids – much like fires –are wild and unpredictable.
###
Quem Brinca Com O Fogo... | Programa de FamĂlia | Paramount Pictures Portugal (HD)
Nada prepara estes bombeiros para o desafio mais difĂcil de todos: babysitting. "Quem Brinca Com O Fogo...", com John Cena, estreia a 7 novembro nos cinemas | Portugal
#QuemBrincaComOFogo
Quando o superintendente Jake Carson (John Cena) e a sua equipa de elite de bombeiros-paraquedistas (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo e Tyler Mane) resgatam trĂȘs irmĂŁos (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery e Finley Rose Slater) a caminho de um violento incĂȘndio florestal, rapidamente percebem que por muito treino que tivessem feito, nada os poderia preparar para o trabalho mais desafiador de todos os tempos – babysitters. Incapazes de localizar os pais das crianças, os bombeiros tĂȘm as suas vidas, empregos e quartel de cabeça para baixo. Depressa aprendem que as crianças – tal como os incĂȘndios - sĂŁo selvagens e imprevisĂveis.
TĂtulo Original: Playing with Fire
Realização: Andy Fickman
Argumento: Dan Ewen e Matthew Lieberman
HistĂłria de: Dan Ewen
Produção: Todd Garner, Sean Robins
Produção Executiva: Mark Moran
Elenco: John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Brianna Hildebrand, Dennis Haybert, Judy Greer
###
More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's November 2019 Premiere Highlights | Thanksgiving!
Originally published: Monday, October 28, 2019.
Additional sources: 411mania.com (II), CA NotĂcias.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Movies News and Highlights!
‘Are You Afraid Of The Dark?’ Reboot Scares Up Spooktacular Ratings for Nickelodeon in its Three-Part Run
‘Are You Afraid Of The Dark?’ Reboot Scores Solidly For Nickelodeon In Its Three-Part Run
Nickelodeon is celebrating Halloween by shedding some light on the success of its three-part reboot of Are You Afraid Of The Dark?!
The reimagined anthology of Are You Afraid of the Dark? ran as a brand-new limited series through three hour-long episodes that premiered on Oct. 11, 18 and 25. The series introduced an entirely new Midnight Society group of kids, who tell a terrifying tale about the Carnival of Doom, only to have the events of the story come to life.
All three parts of Are You Afraid of the Dark? ranked as the most co-viewed show on broadcast and TV each week, with 33% of Adults 18-49 watching with a Kid 6-11, reports Deadline. It was the number-one live-action series on cable TV in all kids’ demos (2-11, 6-11 and tweens 9-14). And with an industry standard of shows targeting 6-11-year-olds experiencing roughly 20% lifts in L3 time shifted ratings compared to Live Same Day, Are You Afraid of the Dark? scored 35% lifts among Kids 6-11 and 36% overall with the Kids 2-11 demo in L3 versus LSD.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? stars Lyliana Wray as “Rachel,” Sam Ashe Arnold as “Gavin,” Miya Cech as “Akiko,” Jeremy Ray Taylor as “Graham,” Tamara Smart as “Louise” and Rafael Casal as “Mr. Tophat.” The Are You Afraid of the Dark? limited series was produced by ACE Entertainment with ACE founder Matt Kaplan and Spencer Berman serving as executive producers. The series was written by BenDavid Grabinski and directed by Dean Israelite, both of whom also executive producers.
What did you think of Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? limited series? Vote in the poll here!: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/10/what-did-you-think-of-all-new-are-you_29.html
Would you like to see Are You Afraid of the Dark? revived as a full series? Let me know here!: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/10/should-are-you-afraid-of-dark-be.html
From SYFY WIRE:
HOW ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? CREATED A GENERATION OF FEMINIST HORROR FANS
In 1992, there were plenty of young girls who loved horror — but most horror producers just didn’t seem to care. Take my word for it; I was 10 then, with a newly minted taste for the creepy, and a potent combination of parental neglect and basic cable left me free to surf the airwaves each night. I couldn’t get enough of the era’s goofy, gory horror on shows like Amazing Stories and the syndicated Nightmare on Elm Street spin-off, Freddy’s Nightmare. But as I wiled away my nights watching ghosts terrorize horny teens and Brad Pitt get shot with an arrow, I noticed a pattern: On TV, girls were almost never the heroes.
The horror films of the late ‘80s and very early ‘90s were hit-and-miss when it came to female characters — though many of the movies were misogynistic messes and almost none were ethnically diverse, the era gave us some great heroines, like Nightmare on Elm Street’s Nancy Thompson and OG Buffy Summers. But we were a long way from the feminist horror of today — especially on TV, where being a girl generally meant that you didn’t get to save the day; more likely you just got to shriek photogenically while some creep tried to kill you.
What was an emerging feminist horror nerd to do? Luckily, a new show had just come out — one where girls got to be the imperfect heroes as often as the boys did. Are You Afraid of the Dark? premiered on Canadian TV in 1990, though it only became a tween phenomenon when it appeared on Nickelodeon in the summer of 1992. Each episode followed the Midnight Society, a group of tweens who loved horror as much as I did, as they met in some suitably atmospheric woods and told each other genuinely scary stories. The stories did more than just give an entire generation some trauma around clowns, though. They hinged on regular problems and fears that didn’t have anything to do with ghosts trapped in mirrors or gross bloody pool-monsters — bullying, peer pressure, family trouble. Several issues addressed female experiences, like being bullied by other girls, or having boys resent your presence in an all-male space. It was the first time I realized that horror didn’t just have to be about a boy’s fears or problems; it could be about my fears and problems, too.
Series co-creator, writer, and director D.J. MacHale hadn’t consciously set out to create a work of feminist horror —“I wrote about strong characters and many of them happened to be girls,” he says. But telling inclusive stories was part of the show’s mission from day one. “I write about kids who find themselves in challenging situations, and ultimately solve the problems themselves ... no matter their sex, race, or age,” says MacHale. Like his other work (including the girl-centric Kirsten Dunst vehicle Tower of Terror), Are You Afraid of the Dark? focused on “the theme of self-empowerment” — and for the show’s many female characters, that meant blowing past stereotypes of how young girls should act, and finding the strength to be heroes.
When MacHale first developed the show with partner Ned Kandel, they had planned it as a series of bedtime stories. But the pair hit a roadblock: They realized bedtime stories were actually incredibly boring. What had they actually liked as kids? “Scary stories,” says MacHale. So they changed course, shifting the show’s focus to horror and thrillers for kids — a practically nonexistent genre at the time. It took a year to sell Nickelodeon executives on it, but by 1992 the show was airing weekly in the U.S., just in time to be part of a kids’ horror golden age that included Beetlejuice the Animated Series (1989-1990), Eerie, Indiana (1991-2), the original Addams Family films (1991 & 1993), and Goosebumps (1992).
But Are You Afraid of the Dark? differentiated itself from the pack not just by including real scares, but by taking kids’ problems and feelings incredibly seriously. (MacHale, not coincidentally, worked on ABC Afterschool Specials years before developing the show). “I wanted stories about real kids who were facing challenges that had nothing to do with the supernatural situation they ended up in.” Though the Ghastly Grinner might be what pops into our brains when we think of the show, the emotional punch of watching kids face and conquer their fears is probably what really embedded the series in our brains. “If I had set out to make a flat-out scare-fest, the episodes would all have been much scarier,” says MacHale. “I wanted to make eerie stories that also touched you on a more interesting, human level ... like The Twilight Zone did so brilliantly. Those are the kinds of stories that stick with you.”
The show worked hard to be inclusive at a level rarely seen in the early ‘90s; the Midnight Society included a diverse group of actors, as did the stories themselves— in fact, it was actually nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 1996. The show’s mission toward exploring a broad array of experiences also extended beyond the camera; in the first season alone, says MacHale, half of the scripts focused on female characters and were written by female writers. “We wanted to depict a wide variety of stories, characters, and situations. It was all about diversity,” says MacHale. “We didn't play to stereotypes.”
MacHale now works as a YA novelist ("I can just sit in my cave and be creative.”). He’s the author of the New York Times bestselling Pendragon series, and says that in his books, “the strongest characters are the girls.” Reflecting on the lasting legacy of Are You Afraid of the Dark?, he notes, “I can't say for certain that there has been any hugely dramatic influence on our culture. But I'd like to believe that by depicting kids taking charge of difficult situations, it opened up kid-viewers to the idea that they aren't powerless in their own lives.”
Today, girls who feel the allure of ghosts and gore don’t have to worry that the world of horror doesn’t want them — from Monster High to Hotel Transylvania to the Disney Channel’s Vampirina, horror culture now opens its arms to young girls as well as boys, says Kate Hagen, director of community at screenwriting site the Blacklist and creator of the site’s 31 Days of Feminist Horror Films. “It definitely feels like there's been sort of a reckoning, like, ‘Hey, little girls love this stuff, too!'”
The series reboot debuts into a wholly different world. I mean, most kids watching it now have never lived in a world without Buffy or Dana Scully or the desperately-needed critical reclamation of Jennifer’s Body. Today’s ghoulish girls wouldn’t find their jaws on the floor, like I did, after watching “The Tale of the Watcher’s Woods,” and realizing that their fears and pains weren’t trivial; they were the stuff of horror tales. Horror culture has changed vastly and for the better over the past 29 years, and the new Are You Afraid of the Dark? will doubtlessly take on new problems. I’m glad to see that the show, like all our great stories, can be changed and adapted for new generations. But I also hope we never forget the impact of the original series, and how it beamed into people’s houses, a few minutes after Ren & Stimpy, and let young horror fans who didn’t look like the heroes on other shows understand that their stories were worth telling, too.
###
More Nick: Premiere of 'The Spongebob Musical: Live On Stage!' Delivers Great Ratings for Nickelodeon!
Originally published: Friday, November 01, 2019.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Halloween on Nickelodeon and Are You Afraid of the Dark? News and Highlights!
Nickelodeon is celebrating Halloween by shedding some light on the success of its three-part reboot of Are You Afraid Of The Dark?!
The reimagined anthology of Are You Afraid of the Dark? ran as a brand-new limited series through three hour-long episodes that premiered on Oct. 11, 18 and 25. The series introduced an entirely new Midnight Society group of kids, who tell a terrifying tale about the Carnival of Doom, only to have the events of the story come to life.
All three parts of Are You Afraid of the Dark? ranked as the most co-viewed show on broadcast and TV each week, with 33% of Adults 18-49 watching with a Kid 6-11, reports Deadline. It was the number-one live-action series on cable TV in all kids’ demos (2-11, 6-11 and tweens 9-14). And with an industry standard of shows targeting 6-11-year-olds experiencing roughly 20% lifts in L3 time shifted ratings compared to Live Same Day, Are You Afraid of the Dark? scored 35% lifts among Kids 6-11 and 36% overall with the Kids 2-11 demo in L3 versus LSD.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? stars Lyliana Wray as “Rachel,” Sam Ashe Arnold as “Gavin,” Miya Cech as “Akiko,” Jeremy Ray Taylor as “Graham,” Tamara Smart as “Louise” and Rafael Casal as “Mr. Tophat.” The Are You Afraid of the Dark? limited series was produced by ACE Entertainment with ACE founder Matt Kaplan and Spencer Berman serving as executive producers. The series was written by BenDavid Grabinski and directed by Dean Israelite, both of whom also executive producers.
What did you think of Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? limited series? Vote in the poll here!: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/10/what-did-you-think-of-all-new-are-you_29.html
Would you like to see Are You Afraid of the Dark? revived as a full series? Let me know here!: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/10/should-are-you-afraid-of-dark-be.html
From SYFY WIRE:
HOW ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? CREATED A GENERATION OF FEMINIST HORROR FANS
In 1992, there were plenty of young girls who loved horror — but most horror producers just didn’t seem to care. Take my word for it; I was 10 then, with a newly minted taste for the creepy, and a potent combination of parental neglect and basic cable left me free to surf the airwaves each night. I couldn’t get enough of the era’s goofy, gory horror on shows like Amazing Stories and the syndicated Nightmare on Elm Street spin-off, Freddy’s Nightmare. But as I wiled away my nights watching ghosts terrorize horny teens and Brad Pitt get shot with an arrow, I noticed a pattern: On TV, girls were almost never the heroes.
The horror films of the late ‘80s and very early ‘90s were hit-and-miss when it came to female characters — though many of the movies were misogynistic messes and almost none were ethnically diverse, the era gave us some great heroines, like Nightmare on Elm Street’s Nancy Thompson and OG Buffy Summers. But we were a long way from the feminist horror of today — especially on TV, where being a girl generally meant that you didn’t get to save the day; more likely you just got to shriek photogenically while some creep tried to kill you.
What was an emerging feminist horror nerd to do? Luckily, a new show had just come out — one where girls got to be the imperfect heroes as often as the boys did. Are You Afraid of the Dark? premiered on Canadian TV in 1990, though it only became a tween phenomenon when it appeared on Nickelodeon in the summer of 1992. Each episode followed the Midnight Society, a group of tweens who loved horror as much as I did, as they met in some suitably atmospheric woods and told each other genuinely scary stories. The stories did more than just give an entire generation some trauma around clowns, though. They hinged on regular problems and fears that didn’t have anything to do with ghosts trapped in mirrors or gross bloody pool-monsters — bullying, peer pressure, family trouble. Several issues addressed female experiences, like being bullied by other girls, or having boys resent your presence in an all-male space. It was the first time I realized that horror didn’t just have to be about a boy’s fears or problems; it could be about my fears and problems, too.
Series co-creator, writer, and director D.J. MacHale hadn’t consciously set out to create a work of feminist horror —“I wrote about strong characters and many of them happened to be girls,” he says. But telling inclusive stories was part of the show’s mission from day one. “I write about kids who find themselves in challenging situations, and ultimately solve the problems themselves ... no matter their sex, race, or age,” says MacHale. Like his other work (including the girl-centric Kirsten Dunst vehicle Tower of Terror), Are You Afraid of the Dark? focused on “the theme of self-empowerment” — and for the show’s many female characters, that meant blowing past stereotypes of how young girls should act, and finding the strength to be heroes.
When MacHale first developed the show with partner Ned Kandel, they had planned it as a series of bedtime stories. But the pair hit a roadblock: They realized bedtime stories were actually incredibly boring. What had they actually liked as kids? “Scary stories,” says MacHale. So they changed course, shifting the show’s focus to horror and thrillers for kids — a practically nonexistent genre at the time. It took a year to sell Nickelodeon executives on it, but by 1992 the show was airing weekly in the U.S., just in time to be part of a kids’ horror golden age that included Beetlejuice the Animated Series (1989-1990), Eerie, Indiana (1991-2), the original Addams Family films (1991 & 1993), and Goosebumps (1992).
But Are You Afraid of the Dark? differentiated itself from the pack not just by including real scares, but by taking kids’ problems and feelings incredibly seriously. (MacHale, not coincidentally, worked on ABC Afterschool Specials years before developing the show). “I wanted stories about real kids who were facing challenges that had nothing to do with the supernatural situation they ended up in.” Though the Ghastly Grinner might be what pops into our brains when we think of the show, the emotional punch of watching kids face and conquer their fears is probably what really embedded the series in our brains. “If I had set out to make a flat-out scare-fest, the episodes would all have been much scarier,” says MacHale. “I wanted to make eerie stories that also touched you on a more interesting, human level ... like The Twilight Zone did so brilliantly. Those are the kinds of stories that stick with you.”
The show worked hard to be inclusive at a level rarely seen in the early ‘90s; the Midnight Society included a diverse group of actors, as did the stories themselves— in fact, it was actually nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 1996. The show’s mission toward exploring a broad array of experiences also extended beyond the camera; in the first season alone, says MacHale, half of the scripts focused on female characters and were written by female writers. “We wanted to depict a wide variety of stories, characters, and situations. It was all about diversity,” says MacHale. “We didn't play to stereotypes.”
MacHale now works as a YA novelist ("I can just sit in my cave and be creative.”). He’s the author of the New York Times bestselling Pendragon series, and says that in his books, “the strongest characters are the girls.” Reflecting on the lasting legacy of Are You Afraid of the Dark?, he notes, “I can't say for certain that there has been any hugely dramatic influence on our culture. But I'd like to believe that by depicting kids taking charge of difficult situations, it opened up kid-viewers to the idea that they aren't powerless in their own lives.”
Today, girls who feel the allure of ghosts and gore don’t have to worry that the world of horror doesn’t want them — from Monster High to Hotel Transylvania to the Disney Channel’s Vampirina, horror culture now opens its arms to young girls as well as boys, says Kate Hagen, director of community at screenwriting site the Blacklist and creator of the site’s 31 Days of Feminist Horror Films. “It definitely feels like there's been sort of a reckoning, like, ‘Hey, little girls love this stuff, too!'”
The series reboot debuts into a wholly different world. I mean, most kids watching it now have never lived in a world without Buffy or Dana Scully or the desperately-needed critical reclamation of Jennifer’s Body. Today’s ghoulish girls wouldn’t find their jaws on the floor, like I did, after watching “The Tale of the Watcher’s Woods,” and realizing that their fears and pains weren’t trivial; they were the stuff of horror tales. Horror culture has changed vastly and for the better over the past 29 years, and the new Are You Afraid of the Dark? will doubtlessly take on new problems. I’m glad to see that the show, like all our great stories, can be changed and adapted for new generations. But I also hope we never forget the impact of the original series, and how it beamed into people’s houses, a few minutes after Ren & Stimpy, and let young horror fans who didn’t look like the heroes on other shows understand that their stories were worth telling, too.
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More Nick: Premiere of 'The Spongebob Musical: Live On Stage!' Delivers Great Ratings for Nickelodeon!
Originally published: Friday, November 01, 2019.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Halloween on Nickelodeon and Are You Afraid of the Dark? News and Highlights!
Nike and Nickelodeon Launch the Kyrie x SpongeBob SquarePants Collection
Update (7/23) - Below is Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products' (VNCP) original press release announcing the sponge-tastic news!
NEW YORK, July 23, 2019 - Nike and Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products (VNCP) today announced the launch of the Kyrie x SpongeBob SquarePants collection. The collection features five shoes inspired by the signature characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as apparel and accessories, including t-shirts, a hoodie, socks and backpacks.
Basketball superstar Kyrie Irving’s latest collection is suited for on-court competition and off-court jellyfishing with dedicated colorways for SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Squidward Tentacles, Sandy Cheeks and Mr. Krabs. The three high-top sneakers in the collection showcase the signature Kyrie 5 silhouette in bright yellow for SpongeBob, pink and green tones for Patrick and turquoise accents for Squidward. The low-cut silhouette of the Kyrie Low 2 pays homage to the currency-crazy crustacean, Mr. Krabs, as well as a Sandy Cheeks version with colors inspired by her iconic space suit.
The Kyrie Irving x SpongeBob INSANE SNEAKER Collab w/ Nike YOU Can't Miss! đ | SpongeBob
Crafted in collaboration with Nike, the Kyrie Irving x SpongeBob SquarePants collection celebrates Kyrie’s love for one of television’s most memorable shows, officially bringing Bikini Bottom to the basketball court for the first time. Tune in as we go behind the scenes with Kyrie at Nike NYHQ for an inside look at all 5 shoes from the SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired set.
Kyrie X SpongeBob Collection: https://at.nick.com/SpongeBobxNike
This year marks the 20th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants, one of the most iconic TV series ever created. SpongeBob has made an impact on pop culture with its universe of beloved characters, viral catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases and Tony award-winning Broadway musical. The character has also influenced the worlds of fashion and streetwear with recent collaborations, including Moschino, Lisa Frank, Marlou Breuls and Chinatown Market.
“What makes our collaboration with Kyrie and Nike so special is that we are celebrating SpongeBob’s 20th Anniversary with one of SpongeBob’s biggest genuine fans,” said Jose Castro, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Collaborations, VNCP. “Everything from the characters Kyrie chose and how they were designed into the line was done from a true fan’s perspective, and it shows. The sneakers, clothes and accessories became extensions of SpongeBob’s world, and we know fans everywhere will love this collection, just as much as we loved creating it with Kyrie.”
Kyrie x SpongeBob SquarePants will be available in adult and kids sizes from August 10 on Nike.com and in-store. In Europe, the collection will also be available at Kickz stores.
About Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products
Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products (VNCP) oversees all merchandising and retail operations for Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), one of the world’s leading multimedia entertainment companies and home to such powerhouse brands as Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount Network, Paramount Pictures and Comedy Central. With a diverse portfolio spanning animation, preschool, youth and adult licenses, VNCP is committed to providing key partner development and innovative marketing solutions, ensuring the highest quality product offering across some of the world's most powerful TV and entertainment properties, including SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
--Ends--
Update (9/27) - From the Viacom Newsroom:
Spark Inclusion
HOW INCLUSION PLAYED A ROLE IN THE KYRIE IRVING SPONGEBOB SNEAKERS
NIKE AND VIACOM NICKELODEON CONSUMER PRODUCTS LAUNCH THE
KYRIE X SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS COLLECTION
Collaboration Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Iconic Animated Series
NEW YORK, July 23, 2019 - Nike and Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products (VNCP) today announced the launch of the Kyrie x SpongeBob SquarePants collection. The collection features five shoes inspired by the signature characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as apparel and accessories, including t-shirts, a hoodie, socks and backpacks.
Basketball superstar Kyrie Irving’s latest collection is suited for on-court competition and off-court jellyfishing with dedicated colorways for SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Squidward Tentacles, Sandy Cheeks and Mr. Krabs. The three high-top sneakers in the collection showcase the signature Kyrie 5 silhouette in bright yellow for SpongeBob, pink and green tones for Patrick and turquoise accents for Squidward. The low-cut silhouette of the Kyrie Low 2 pays homage to the currency-crazy crustacean, Mr. Krabs, as well as a Sandy Cheeks version with colors inspired by her iconic space suit.
Crafted in collaboration with Nike, the Kyrie Irving x SpongeBob SquarePants collection celebrates Kyrie’s love for one of television’s most memorable shows, officially bringing Bikini Bottom to the basketball court for the first time. Tune in as we go behind the scenes with Kyrie at Nike NYHQ for an inside look at all 5 shoes from the SpongeBob SquarePants-inspired set.
Kyrie X SpongeBob Collection: https://at.nick.com/SpongeBobxNike
This year marks the 20th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants, one of the most iconic TV series ever created. SpongeBob has made an impact on pop culture with its universe of beloved characters, viral catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases and Tony award-winning Broadway musical. The character has also influenced the worlds of fashion and streetwear with recent collaborations, including Moschino, Lisa Frank, Marlou Breuls and Chinatown Market.
“What makes our collaboration with Kyrie and Nike so special is that we are celebrating SpongeBob’s 20th Anniversary with one of SpongeBob’s biggest genuine fans,” said Jose Castro, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Collaborations, VNCP. “Everything from the characters Kyrie chose and how they were designed into the line was done from a true fan’s perspective, and it shows. The sneakers, clothes and accessories became extensions of SpongeBob’s world, and we know fans everywhere will love this collection, just as much as we loved creating it with Kyrie.”
Kyrie x SpongeBob SquarePants will be available in adult and kids sizes from August 10 on Nike.com and in-store. In Europe, the collection will also be available at Kickz stores.
###
About Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products
Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products (VNCP) oversees all merchandising and retail operations for Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), one of the world’s leading multimedia entertainment companies and home to such powerhouse brands as Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount Network, Paramount Pictures and Comedy Central. With a diverse portfolio spanning animation, preschool, youth and adult licenses, VNCP is committed to providing key partner development and innovative marketing solutions, ensuring the highest quality product offering across some of the world's most powerful TV and entertainment properties, including SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Update (9/27) - From the Viacom Newsroom:
Spark Inclusion
HOW INCLUSION PLAYED A ROLE IN THE KYRIE IRVING SPONGEBOB SNEAKERS
Nickelodeon India Plans 200+ Hours of Original Content Over the Coming Year in Aggressive Content Strategy
Nickelodeon plans 200+ hours of original content in aggressive content strategy
Nickelodeon announces its 8th indigenous show with “Golmaal Jr.” on SONIC
Kids are the most dynamic and versatile audience and entertaining them is no mean feat. Nickelodeon, India’s leading kids’ entertainment franchise has been at the forefront of engaging kids through bringing to life iconic characters like Motu Patlu, Shiva and Rudra amongst others, thereby emerging as the No.1 franchise in reach and engagement in the category. Post the resounding success of 7 Intellectual Properties (IPs), the franchise is all set to launch the 8th Indigenous IP, Golmaal Jr. on Sonic!
Bolstering the brand’s content portfolio, Golmaal Jr. on-boards kids on a journey of endless fun, laughter and Golmaal. Produced by Nickelodeon and created by Reliance Animation and Rohit Shetty Picturez the 8th IP of the franchise will recreate the magic of the iconic movies through a fun animated series that will entertain kids starting Monday 13th May 2019 at 13:30 on Sonic.
Based on one of the most popular movie franchises of Hindi Cinema – Golmaal, this show brings to life a heady mix of slice-of-life friendship, relatable characters, humor and loads fun – all rolled into an enthralling joyride. Golmaal Jr. follows the fun face-off between two groups helmed by Gopal and Madhav respectively. Together, they are fun, chaotic, mischievous and are sure to entertain and engage kids.
Nickelodeon has always identified white spaces and launched characters that are ground breaking. Each of the local home-grown Nicktoons from Pakdam Pakdai, India’s first chase comedy, Motu Patlu – the only adult protagonist in the kids’ animation category, Shiva, India’s whiz kid, Gattu Battu, India’s first animated detective series, and Rudra Boom Chik Chik Boom – India’s first Magictoon have all introduced kids to new genres of entertainment. With the launch of Golmaal Jr., the Nickelodeon franchise will set into motion the aggressive content strategy for the year. With over 500 hours of content the franchise today has the largest, immersive and the most versatile local content library in the category. The coming year will see the further scaling of the content library with over 200 + hours of content, expected to be added through shows as well as made for television movies.
Speaking about the success of the home-grown characters, Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head – Hindi Mass Entertainment and the Kids TV Network at Viacom18 said, “Understanding of kids, their choices and their diverse entertainment needs has been central to Nickelodeon. We have hence always introduced characters that are relatable, engaging and clutter breaking. The new show Golmaal Jr. is set to bring further diversity and scale to the wide content library of Nickelodeon.”
She further added that “Going forward, we will continue to enthrall kids with great stories and characters and maximize ROI so that we can introduce kids to more such immersive and engaging content experiences.”
Speaking about the 8th IP launch of the Nickelodeon franchise, Anu Sikka, Head – Content, Kids Entertainment Cluster, Viacom18 said, “Bollywood is an important part of every Indian kids’ life and they have always loved films and always adored these characters. Golmaal has been a very successful franchise, much loved by kids and the animated series Golmaal Junior with its unique take on fun, friendship and humor is sure to get the same patronage and love from our young fans. The addition of Golmaal Jr. will bring further depth and repertoire to our squad of indigenous Nicktoons.”
Speaking about the Golmaal franchise, filmmaker and Golmaal movie director Rohit Shetty said, “Golmaal franchise is very close to my heart. The film has already been popular amongst the family audience and new PRANK GANG- Gopal, Madhav, Laxman and Lucky are all set to entertain children on Sonic. The concept of Golmaal Jr. had been in place for a while and I’m very excited about the partnership with Nickelodeon, to bring this high decibel concept and show to life. Each character and their traits are so carefully crafted that I’m confident kids will love the Golmaal Jr. Prank Gang.”
Commenting on the Golmaal series, Shibasish Sarkar, Group CEO, Reliance Entertainment said, “Golmaal is extremely popular with kids and extending the franchise through a special animated series for kids was a great idea to increase affinity for brand Golmaal. Nickelodeon franchise being the category leader enjoying a lot of love from children was hence the ideal partner to bring this iconic brand to life for kids.”
The show’s launch will be supported by a dynamic 360 marketing and communication plan which will include an aggressive TV plan, within the Viacom18 network and outside the network. A high decibel outdoor plan along with mall visibility is sure to capture eyeballs across the country. Fun photo opportunities with the iconic Golmaal tandem bike and audio standees at multiplexes playing the catchy Golmaal title track is sure to break the clutter.
There are various innovations lined up on the digital front, starting with the innovative YouTube unskippable ad that is a category first. There would be a large influencer campaign reaching out to the digital audience. Keeping in mind the sensibility of the social media natives, a whacky challenge has been devised, #GolmaalJrChallenge where kids would be asked to replicate the popular Golmaal dance step!
Golmaal Jr. premieres Monday 13th May 2019, airing daily at 1:30pm on Nickelodeon Sonic!
In additional news, Nickelodeon India has relaunched their official Sonic Gang website, https://www.sonicgang.com, with a brand-new look!
Nickelodeon announces its 8th indigenous show with “Golmaal Jr.” on SONIC
Kids are the most dynamic and versatile audience and entertaining them is no mean feat. Nickelodeon, India’s leading kids’ entertainment franchise has been at the forefront of engaging kids through bringing to life iconic characters like Motu Patlu, Shiva and Rudra amongst others, thereby emerging as the No.1 franchise in reach and engagement in the category. Post the resounding success of 7 Intellectual Properties (IPs), the franchise is all set to launch the 8th Indigenous IP, Golmaal Jr. on Sonic!
Bolstering the brand’s content portfolio, Golmaal Jr. on-boards kids on a journey of endless fun, laughter and Golmaal. Produced by Nickelodeon and created by Reliance Animation and Rohit Shetty Picturez the 8th IP of the franchise will recreate the magic of the iconic movies through a fun animated series that will entertain kids starting Monday 13th May 2019 at 13:30 on Sonic.
Based on one of the most popular movie franchises of Hindi Cinema – Golmaal, this show brings to life a heady mix of slice-of-life friendship, relatable characters, humor and loads fun – all rolled into an enthralling joyride. Golmaal Jr. follows the fun face-off between two groups helmed by Gopal and Madhav respectively. Together, they are fun, chaotic, mischievous and are sure to entertain and engage kids.
Nickelodeon has always identified white spaces and launched characters that are ground breaking. Each of the local home-grown Nicktoons from Pakdam Pakdai, India’s first chase comedy, Motu Patlu – the only adult protagonist in the kids’ animation category, Shiva, India’s whiz kid, Gattu Battu, India’s first animated detective series, and Rudra Boom Chik Chik Boom – India’s first Magictoon have all introduced kids to new genres of entertainment. With the launch of Golmaal Jr., the Nickelodeon franchise will set into motion the aggressive content strategy for the year. With over 500 hours of content the franchise today has the largest, immersive and the most versatile local content library in the category. The coming year will see the further scaling of the content library with over 200 + hours of content, expected to be added through shows as well as made for television movies.
Speaking about the success of the home-grown characters, Nina Elavia Jaipuria, Head – Hindi Mass Entertainment and the Kids TV Network at Viacom18 said, “Understanding of kids, their choices and their diverse entertainment needs has been central to Nickelodeon. We have hence always introduced characters that are relatable, engaging and clutter breaking. The new show Golmaal Jr. is set to bring further diversity and scale to the wide content library of Nickelodeon.”
She further added that “Going forward, we will continue to enthrall kids with great stories and characters and maximize ROI so that we can introduce kids to more such immersive and engaging content experiences.”
Speaking about the 8th IP launch of the Nickelodeon franchise, Anu Sikka, Head – Content, Kids Entertainment Cluster, Viacom18 said, “Bollywood is an important part of every Indian kids’ life and they have always loved films and always adored these characters. Golmaal has been a very successful franchise, much loved by kids and the animated series Golmaal Junior with its unique take on fun, friendship and humor is sure to get the same patronage and love from our young fans. The addition of Golmaal Jr. will bring further depth and repertoire to our squad of indigenous Nicktoons.”
Speaking about the Golmaal franchise, filmmaker and Golmaal movie director Rohit Shetty said, “Golmaal franchise is very close to my heart. The film has already been popular amongst the family audience and new PRANK GANG- Gopal, Madhav, Laxman and Lucky are all set to entertain children on Sonic. The concept of Golmaal Jr. had been in place for a while and I’m very excited about the partnership with Nickelodeon, to bring this high decibel concept and show to life. Each character and their traits are so carefully crafted that I’m confident kids will love the Golmaal Jr. Prank Gang.”
Commenting on the Golmaal series, Shibasish Sarkar, Group CEO, Reliance Entertainment said, “Golmaal is extremely popular with kids and extending the franchise through a special animated series for kids was a great idea to increase affinity for brand Golmaal. Nickelodeon franchise being the category leader enjoying a lot of love from children was hence the ideal partner to bring this iconic brand to life for kids.”
The show’s launch will be supported by a dynamic 360 marketing and communication plan which will include an aggressive TV plan, within the Viacom18 network and outside the network. A high decibel outdoor plan along with mall visibility is sure to capture eyeballs across the country. Fun photo opportunities with the iconic Golmaal tandem bike and audio standees at multiplexes playing the catchy Golmaal title track is sure to break the clutter.
There are various innovations lined up on the digital front, starting with the innovative YouTube unskippable ad that is a category first. There would be a large influencer campaign reaching out to the digital audience. Keeping in mind the sensibility of the social media natives, a whacky challenge has been devised, #GolmaalJrChallenge where kids would be asked to replicate the popular Golmaal dance step!
Golmaal Jr. premieres Monday 13th May 2019, airing daily at 1:30pm on Nickelodeon Sonic!
In additional news, Nickelodeon India has relaunched their official Sonic Gang website, https://www.sonicgang.com, with a brand-new look!
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